CLINTON, S.C. – During the midpoint of the Presbyterian College lacrosse team's trio of home bouts in rapid succession, this one opposite non-conference foe Akron (a team who the Blue Hose bested in a photo-finish last spring), PC was unable to come away with the victory in a 14-2 decision on Monday afternoon.

Offense was hard to come by for Presby despite converting all 17 of their clear attempts, although a stout job from Akron's defensive unit didn't allow the Blue Hose to reach the back of the net on any of their three free-position attempts.

The draw control battle was tightly contested in the midday sunshine (a stark contrast from the downpour that came Clinton's way in the team's last outing against unbeaten UMass Lowell), finishing just behind the Zips at 12-7 in that department.

Head coach Eric Clakeley's unit remains at Bailey Memorial Stadium to wrap up their stretch of three contests in five days, continuing the Spring Break flurry against Rider this Wednesday. Game time is set for 6:00 PM, covered live by ESPN+.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- True freshman Kaylie Rittmueller cut an early deficit in half following a pair of 1^st-period Akron strikes, managing her sixth goal of the campaign with just under seven minutes in the rearview.

- Akron enacted a ridiculous scoring stretch from that point, however, landing the next 11 scores through the next two quarters to stay in front with an advantage as large as 12.

- Putting up three goals in a road trip to Xavier two weeks back, transfer Brooke Chandler added another to her personal stat sheet by getting one over Akron keeper Hannah Sanders, ending PC's scoring output for the day.

- Second-year defenseman Avery West turned in a solid effort despite the final tally, causing three Zip turnovers beside five ground ball recoveries (a new career-high).

- Mackenzie Partsch and Willow Hammond synced up for five of Presbyterian's seven draw controls, while Naomi Lauderbaugh and Kayleigh Aitken shared time in the box at 30 minutes apiece and seven combined saves.

 
NEXT UP
 
- Coach Clakeley's gang rounds out their busy home stretch (although not their last outing of the week entirely) by welcoming Rider to the Palmetto State for a first-time-ever matchup.

- The Broncs have plenty to boast about going into the hump day affair, gaining a W in each of their first four appearances before suffering their lone loss thus far to the Oregon Ducks back on the first day of March.

- Rider followed up that result with a 10-9 barnburner where they emerged victorious against Old Dominion, outgunning the Monarchs 4-1 in the final period for their fourth win at their home site of Lawrenceville, New Jersey.